My BIL's F-150

[Diamondpilot]

Well, got of the phone with my BIL just a few minutes ago. He called 3 dealers in his area. First put him on hold for 5 minutes and he did not want to wait so he hung up. It was the least convenient dealer for him. The next one said $85 per plug which he thought was high. He then called the dealer about a mile from his house. They were very nice and said $40 per plug plus the cost of the plugs. Said they do them every day and could get it in after lunch and put 2 guys on it and have it done by the end of the day. So all in all it would be $500 at that dealer for a plug change.

They did say they want to put new boots on all the COP's. Never heard of that but he did not ask them how much that was but will check when he takes it in. All the boots came off easily when we messed with it other than one.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

not being up on the new spark plug scene ( I get to see ag plugs like champion 512 ( H12 ) and autolite 437, etc.. ) what are these new plugs.. what makes em' so prone to breakage?

soundguy

 

[mwb]

not being up on the new spark plug scene ( I get to see ag plugs like champion 512 ( H12 ) and autolite 437, etc.. ) what are these new plugs.. what makes em' so prone to breakage?

soundguy

Wow! I had never heard of this either. This link - Ford TSB of the problem - explains it all. http://grufmanbil.se/webshop/mektips/tsb08-07-06.pdf

 

[Soundguy]

wow!

I see they do like anti seize on the front portion though.

what an ordeal!

soundguy

 

[OKnewguy]

Does anyone know if these are the plugs in my 04 E150 van. It has the 4.6. I have been reading up on this issue, and all of the literature I have read, list many vehicles but never the E150.
Thanks, Dave

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well its all fixed. They had it 4 hours but much of that time was just letting it cool off from the 1 mile or so drive there.

He talked to them quite a bit about it and they act like its no big deal. The Tech's are pros at doing plug changes and can get them done in no time flat. He said the worst they had was 6 broken plugs out of 8 and the bill was $639 for the removal of the 6 plugs plus the 2 non broken ones and replacing all the plugs with new. He said one of there Tech's could do it in 1/2 a day.

It ended up costing my BIL about $80. He was a happy camper. Just shows you how having a good dealer can make all the difference. Some of the other dealers were twice as much for the same work.

Yes, he could have bought the tool for $75 and did it himself but he just did not want to mess with it anymore.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

Well its all fixed. They had it 4 hours but much of that time was just letting it cool off from the 1 mile or so drive there.

He talked to them quite a bit about it and they act like its no big deal. The Tech's are pros at doing plug changes and can get them done in no time flat. He said the worst they had was 6 broken plugs out of 8 and the bill was $639 for the removal of the 6 plugs plus the 2 non broken ones and replacing all the plugs with new. He said one of there Tech's could do it in 1/2 a day.

It ended up costing my BIL about $80. He was a happy camper. Just shows you how having a good dealer can make all the difference. Some of the other dealers were twice as much for the same work.

Yes, he could have bought the tool for $75 and did it himself but he just did not want to mess with it anymore.

Chris

This is one thing I like better about GM trucks, though I own 2 fords. The plugs are easy to get to and they seem to be a lot easier to work on. I changed the plugs, oil and filter and belt in a 2007 Chevy 4.8 with 95k miles and it took a little over an hour. Seems the triton motors are a bear to work on.

 

[Diamondpilot]

This is one thing I like better about GM trucks, though I own 2 fords. The plugs are easy to get to and they seem to be a lot easier to work on. I changed the plugs, oil and filter and belt in a 2007 Chevy 4.8 with 95k miles and it took a little over an hour. Seems the triton motors are a bear to work on.

This may be true, not sure. I can honestly say though this is the first issue he has had in 3 trucks for about 10 years of ownership. I have had 6 Triton powered trucks and my father has had 4 and not a single one has been in the shop. My friends with GM trucks seem to have many nickle and dime items over time so not sure which one is better? I guess its all in what you fill most comfortable with and want to spend your money on.

Either way, 108,000 miles and $600 in maintenance above oil, tires, battery, brakes, ect seems good to me.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

This may be true, not sure. I can honestly say though this is the first issue he has had in 3 trucks for about 10 years of ownership. I have had 6 Triton powered trucks and my father has had 4 and not a single one has been in the shop. My friends with GM trucks seem to have many nickle and dime items over time so not sure which one is better? I guess its all in what you fill most comfortable with and want to spend your money on.

Either way, 108,000 miles and $600 in maintenance above oil, tires, battery, brakes, ect seems good to me.

Chris

I could go either way, just the recent GM bail out left me sour. I've always seen it this way, if you want a truck for a nice ride and occasional work, buy a GM. If you want a truck you can work the dog out of, maybe not as comfortable a ride, buy a ford. If you trade vehicles every 80-100k miles and the price of a truck is most important, can't go wrong with a dodge. All 3 have their ups and downs and I wouldn't turn my back on any of them. My 97 F150 4x4 with the 4.6 had its motor replaced at 180k, due to a cracked head causing the radiator tank to puke. It still has the original tranny and as we speak is in the shop getting new ball joints and tie rod ends (original), both power windows repaired (neither work), the 3rd door repaired (does not open) and the odometer fixed (quit working a couple months ago). All this is costing me about 3k and I'm getting a truck back I know the history on. We were going to purchase a used truck for me to run back and forth to work in, but the prices are absurd. This truck has long been paid for and I promise, on every vehicle, to fix all major items once before getting rid of it. Needless to say, we hold on to vehicles a while.

 

[schmism]

Just wondering if anyone else has had issues with plugs breaking off?

Chris

Dont the V10's also have a plug issue. I know my friend has a Expedition with a V10 and had plug issues with it.

cant remember if it was the stuck/broken plug or if it was the spit the plug out of the head because the chitty AL threads in the head issue.